A Week in June

    Sunday evening is here once again. Another week is behind us, but a new one is just beginning. What adventures might it hold?

    This past week we had a good ole downpour. It rained and rained and rained. I do love a good summer storm. 

Strawberries from Steven and Bonnie's garden. Yum!

A grandma and her babies.

Prepping the site for the new goat barn. 

This sweet boy is growing so fast. He is such a joy. 

 Helping Mamma go through the mail.

Bible study is hard work!

 Sitting like a big boy!

Hanging out with Jaten.

Reading in the porch

Chilling with Daddy

I love his sweet and smiley awake times but there is also something incredibly special about holding a baby as he succumbs to sleep. They relax and get heavier and snuggle in. Soft little nose and cheeks to kiss.

My parents celebrated their 32 wedding anniversary this week. They have an awesome marriage! Spend some time with them and their is no doubt they are still head over heels for each other. My mamma did a great job modeling to me what it means to love and respect your husband! 

 And finally I spent some time this afternoon planting this little garden of succulents. 

May your night be lovely and the week ahead even better!

"Find joy in the ordinary." ~unknown

Beyond My Understanding

      The other day I was thinking about what the Bible has to say about my own understanding of things. It's not very reliable at all. I often have to remind myself of the wisdom of Proverbs 3:5-6
           "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean NOT on your own understanding. But in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."
      Trust in the LORD, not yourself. All to often I find myself leaning back on what I think I know or what I feel, but that proves to be a very shaky support system. Our own understanding is wobbly and unstable and all to often, when we lean on it we find ourselves toppling over backwards. We need to lean back on God.
    Then it says in Provers 28:25b-26
"But the one who trusts in the LORD will be enriched. Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered."
    Here again, it points out the uselessness of "my own understanding." According to this verse, I've found myself to be a fool more often than not. I trust what I think I know, I trust what I feel, but for some reason, it can be so hard to trust in the LORD. But when we do, we come to a place of safety.
    But the Bible doesn't just talk about the uselessness of our own understanding. It also talks about how God's peace and love is so far beyond what our minds can comprehend.
       Ephesians 3:17-19
"So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and the length and height and depth, and to know the love Christ which surpassed knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God."
     The love of The One who created this life "surpasses knowledge." His love is so big, we can't comprehend it. It's beyond our understanding. Which is good, because if God only loved me as much as I could understand, than I wouldn't be very loved.
     But there's more. God's in the business of blowing our minds and showing us things that are beyond our wildest imaginations. And not just in how much He loves us, but in the peace He floods our souls with.
    Philippians 4:6-7
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
    The peace of God is beyond our comprehension. And that peace is our safe place. It "will guard your heart and your mind," if you let it.
     If you let God's big love wash over you, and His incomprehensible peace guard your mind you will be in a good place. Because, if you rest in His love and peace you won't be leaning on yourself.
     So today, may you give up trying to understand and simply trust, resting in the love and peace and joy of One who is so much bigger than you.

Abide

The other day I was reading in the book of John and this is what it said,
           John 15:9 "As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you. Abide in My love."
It says to Abide in His love. Abide means to remain or stay. That means we need to stay put in His love. Sadly, it's all to easy to get itchy feet and start wandering. There are many reasons that we sometimes fail to abide in His love.  All to often however,  we may just forget . But it is so important that we remain in God's love for us, that we Abide.
          In Ephesians 5:17-19 it says,  " ...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,  may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
          I love the wording this passage uses, "rooted and grounded" Roots mean that you aren't going anywhere. We need to be rooted, we need to Abide. The One who created life, loves us so very much and He wants us to know that. To be confident in it.  Happy Monday.

"To say that I am made in the image of God is to say that love is the reason for my existence, for God is love."~Thomas A. Kempis

Life Lived

        This week my Church family lost a member. Ed was 81 years old and died on Monday afternoon. I never really got to know Ed, but he made me smile when I'd seem him motoring along on his scooter with his fedora perched jauntily on his head. From stories I've heard, he was a great man of God who loved to tell stories.
       There is always a weird feeling that comes over you when someone you know dies. That knowledge that you won't see them again.  But then, I was reminded by someone that I will see Ed again. And right now he gets to see Jesus, which is a truly awesome thought.
       So, wherever you are in life, I ask you, "do you know that saving love?" The One who created the stars created you and longs to know your heart. Will you allow yourself to know that love? My hope is that someday when I get to meet Jesus, that my life will be remember for my passion and heart. And for now, and as long as I breathe, I choose to live in the knowledge that I am the daughter of the King. Have a great day.

"The important thing is not how many years in your life but how much life in your years." ~Edward J. Stieglitz

John 3:16 
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life."

Summer Love

      Today I woke up a little before the alarm clock and listened as a bird softly sang outside my window. School is done and Summer break is upon me. There are oh so many adventures just waiting to be had, Laughs to be shared, Memories to make and Dreams to dream. I have a whole list of things that I want to do this summer. I want to perfect my sewing skills and make myself a dress. I want to get back to playing the piano. I want to ride my bike and splash through a few puddles. I want to read a lot of books and I want to watch the fireflies dance with the love of my life by my side. But most importantly, this summer, I want to rediscover the love that God has for me. I realize that I have not always allowed myself to accept that unconditional love, to simply rest in His grace. And so, my goal is learn how to let go and simply be. To live and to laugh and love and to be loved. My prayer is that you too can learn to rest in His love today. Know that the Father's heart is for you and that He desires for you to be all that you can be. He won't let you go, sit back and allow yourself to be wrapped in the arms of the One who will never fail you. Have a great day!

The Promise

A few days ago I received an amazing gift, a ring from the love of my life. When he slipped it on my finger it became a promise of something beautiful. A promise to love me forever. I naturally was very excited and have not stopped staring at my finger since. And then I realized something, I've also received a promise from the One who created the universe. God saw me before I took my first breath and said, "She's mine and I'm going to love her forever." And though I don't wear a ring from God, He reminds every day of the love He has for me. Whether it's in the beauty of a sunrise, a gentle rain, a birds song or a child's laugh, I am constantly reminded that I am loved by the One who made me. And I wonder, why do I ever doubt this? Why do I sometimes wake up and fear that just maybe God's not going to love me today? That is the craziest thing in the world because If I know that a mere human being could love me so much and want to spend the rest of his life with me, how could I ever doubt the love of One who is so much greater. So I wear this ring, as a reminder that I am loved.



"How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered. I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me." --Psalm 139:17-18

"How do you spell love?" asked Piglet. "You don't spell love," said Pooh, "You feel it."

Forever Love

Do you ever stop and marvel at the greatness of God. A God who created, loves and sees us through our lives. A God who not only is with us, but who delights in us. These days I have been simply blown away by this. That the One who created the universe knows my heart. Lately, He has been reminding me of just how much He loves me. I see it in the beauty of spring, in the smile of a friend, in the quiet moments when I just stop and listen. And guess what, He loves you too. His heart is for you and He's calling your name. His mercies are new every morning, His grace will guide you through the day, and His peace will fill your dreams.
Psalms 27:8
"My heart has heard you say, 'come and talk with Me.' And my heart responds, 'Lord, I am coming.'"